Veteran coach Mircea Lucescu has accepted the offer from the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) to become the new head coach of Romania’s national football team. The announcement was made during a press conference on August 6, 2024, where FRF President Răzvan Burleanu officially introduced Lucescu as the team’s new manager. This marks Lucescu’s return to the national team after a 43-year hiatus, having first taken the role in 1981.
Lucescu, known affectionately as “IL Luce,” visited the training camp at Mogoșoaia alongside Burleanu and FRF’s Technical Director Mihai Stoichiță and finalized the details of his new role. One of Lucescu’s key conditions for accepting the position was to have a say in the development strategy for Romania’s youth teams, a request that Burleanu readily agreed to.
Contract Details and Objectives
The 79-year-old coach has signed a two-year contract with FRF, with the primary objective of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Lucescu will earn a monthly salary of €27,000 and is eligible for a €200,000 bonus if he successfully leads Romania to the World Cup.
Lucescu’s appointment follows the departure of Edi Iordănescu, who stepped down after contract renewal negotiations with FRF fell through in July 2024. Initially, the federation approached Gică Hagi as their first choice for the national team role, but Hagi declined the offer. Lucescu, who was second on FRF’s list, agreed to take on the challenge after a few days of negotiations.
Lucescu’s Return to Romanian Football
At the press conference, Lucescu spoke candidly about his decision to return, expressing a mix of nostalgia and responsibility. “I never thought I would be asked to come back to the national team. Honestly, I tried to avoid it, hoping younger coaches would get the chance,” Lucescu admitted. He also revealed that he had attempted to persuade Edi Iordănescu to stay on as coach, and had discussions with Hagi, who he believed was deserving of the position.
However, when it became clear that no other solution was viable, Lucescu felt it was his duty to bring his extensive experience back to the national team. “I am a 100% product of Romanian football, which has made a significant impact on the international stage. I have great confidence in this generation of players, who have formed a winning group,” Lucescu said.
A Legendary Career
Mircea Lucescu is one of the most decorated coaches in football history, with 35 major trophies to his name, trailing only Pep Guardiola (39) and Sir Alex Ferguson (49). Throughout his illustrious career, Lucescu has managed a variety of teams, including the national teams of Romania and Turkey, as well as clubs like Zenit St. Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, Rapid București, Inter Milan, and Dinamo București.
Lucescu’s return to the national team comes at a critical time, with Romania set to kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign in September 2024. Romania’s first matches under Lucescu’s leadership will be against Kosovo and Lithuania on September 6 and 9, followed by games against Cyprus and Lithuania in October. The team will conclude their group stage matches in November, with home fixtures against Kosovo and Cyprus.
As Lucescu prepares to lead Romania into a new era, the nation holds high hopes that his vast experience and strategic acumen will guide them to success on the international stage once again.
